Flying Monkeys and Chairs

So Cheyann just completed a relatively successful drama season. There were members of the team very leery as to whether or not she could handle it, but as far as we can see, no major fall-out happened and she was able to make some good peer connections and build a bit of self esteem engaging in a developmentally normalized activity. And that flying monkey costume was kind of awesome..(I won't delve into the symbolic thoughts that ran through my mind with that casting call ;p) But.. we are feeling the fall-out now. The weekend was horrible. So much hostility, anger, oppposition and even some downright dangerous behavior has left me emotionally exhausted on this Monday morning, wondering how I ever let myself get into the situation where I feel like I am living in an emotional battle zone, experiencing the exact same effects that someone who is living in a home with dometic violence would feel. As a social worker, I would be counseling someone in the DV situation to be strong enough to free themself from that damaging relationship.. but we can't do that when the abuser is our own child. And so we just keep pushing forward,  hoping and praying that the prevention we put in place and the positive connections we build will somehow keep the nasty at bay. It works sometimes. And when it doesn't work..... well... it doesn't.